Where Maresca to Man City Ranks Among the Biggest Fees Ever Paid for a Manager

Manchester City have officially landed their man. After a drawn-out saga, the club has confirmed Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s successor — but the appointment came at a price. One source has told BBC Sport that Manchester City are paying Chelsea about £17m. That compensation package is separate to the one the Blues say they have agreed with Maresca. So where does that figure sit in the history of big-money managerial moves? Let’s break it down.

The Maresca Deal Explained

The path to the Etihad was anything but simple. Manchester City have confirmed the appointment of Enzo Maresca as manager – but only after he personally paid compensation to former club Chelsea. What makes this deal unusual is the dual nature of the compensation. City are themselves reported to have paid £17m to the Blues in order to secure Maresca’s signature on a three-year contract, but Chelsea have made clear that the Italian was also forced to pay them an undisclosed fee in light of his acrimonious mid-season departure.

Some reports placed the City figure even higher. City will have to pay Chelsea in excess of $22.8 million (£17 million, €20 million) in compensation to finally announce Maresca as their new manager, according to Sky Sports.

Maresca to Man City: Deal Summary

How the Saga Unfolded

The background to the deal is what made it so contentious. He left Stamford Bridge abruptly on New Year’s Day after a poor run of form and a breakdown in his relationship with the club’s ownership. He was expected to be confirmed as City’s new manager soon after Guardiola’s last game, but a six-week delay centred on negotiations over compensation for the remaining three years of his Chelsea contract.

Chelsea felt blindsided. Chelsea have revealed that Maresca had informed them last autumn he believed there could be an opportunity to succeed Guardiola. In their statement, both City and Maresca himself would pay compensation as a result of the situation, after two “confidential settlements” were reached.

The Biggest Manager Fees in History

To understand where Maresca ranks, it helps to look at the record books. The world record for a single managerial appointment still belongs to a German deal. Bayern Munich’s £21.7m to take Julian Nagelsmann alone off of RB Leipzig’s hands remains the world record for one single managerial appointment.

Behind that sits one of Chelsea’s most notorious outlays. It’s since been revealed in Brighton’s 2021-22 accounts that Todd Boehly actually sanctioned £21.5million for Potter’s services. Journalist Nizaar Kinsella notes that it’s a world-record compensation fee for a coach.

Most Expensive Manager Fees Ever Paid

Figures based on widely reported compensation fees. Some include backroom staff and add-ons.

Where Maresca Slots In

Based on the reported ~£17m fee, Maresca’s move to Manchester City would rank as one of the three biggest fees ever paid for a manager — sitting just behind Nagelsmann and Potter, but ahead of historic deals like Villas-Boas to Chelsea and Kompany to Bayern Munich.

For context, the previous big Chelsea-related deals were significant but smaller. Chelsea paid £13.3m to bring Andre Villas-Boas to Stamford Bridge in 2011. Meanwhile, while Burnley initially put a £17million price tag on Kompany, they ultimately accepted Bayern’s offer of £10.2million.

It’s worth noting that Maresca himself was once a relative bargain. Chelsea identified the 44-year-old as the ideal manager to replace Mauricio Pochettino and they agreed to pay a £10million compensation fee to the Foxes. He enjoyed a successful debut season at Stamford Bridge, securing a top-four finish in the Premier League before winning the Europa Conference League.

Why the Fee Was So High

The size of the package reflects the circumstances of Maresca’s exit rather than just market value. It became clear to us that it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola and that he was fully committed to pursuing the opportunity, despite the fact he was under a long-term contract which he had no right to terminate.

Maresca still had significant time left on his Chelsea deal. A deal is in the hands of each club’s respective lawyers, who are involved after Maresca left Chelsea still with three-and-a-half years left on his contract in January. That remaining length is precisely why the compensation climbed so high.

What City Are Getting

Despite the price, City believe they have secured a top-tier appointment. City have secured Chelsea’s highest regarded manager since Thomas Tuchel, one who also has the backing of Pep Guardiola, having previously served as his assistant during a Treble-winning campaign.

Maresca’s pedigree is undeniable. Maresca, who led Leicester to promotion and won the Club World Cup with Chelsea last summer, said he would relish the pressure of succeeding six-time Premier League winner Guardiola.

The Maresca era is already taking shape on the pitch, too. England midfielder Elliot Anderson is set to become City’s first signing of the Maresca era after a reported British record £116million fee was agreed with Nottingham Forest last week.

At roughly £17m, the Maresca deal cements a growing trend: elite managers now command transfer-style fees once reserved for star players. While he hasn’t toppled Nagelsmann or Potter at the very top, Maresca’s switch to Manchester City stands as one of the most expensive — and certainly one of the most dramatic — managerial moves football has ever seen.

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